Stunning Art Deco Liverpool shopfront goes on display

A stunning Art Deco shopfront and Liverpool landmark telling the history of 200 years of migration, community and housing in the city, is revealed to the public.

Supported by a £291,300 HLF grant and made possible through money raised by National Lottery players, Galkoff’s and the Secret Life of Pembroke Place will go on display from today (Friday 26 October) at the Museum of Liverpool.

Stories behind dazzling green tiles revealed

The project to restore and reveal the fascinating histories behind the dazzling green tiles of P. Galkoff’s kosher butcher shop’s frontage on Pembroke Place has been developed by the Museum of Liverpool in partnership with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).

It is the culmination of research, archaeological digs, a painstaking conservation project and the assistance of more than 70 volunteers, uncovering a vibrant and eclectic history featuring rollerskating Victorians, gruesome murders and forgotten zoological gardens alongside the bustling kosher butcher’s shop.

A life-size reconstruction

At the heart of the museum’s new display is a life-size reconstruction of the Liverpool landmark, the beautiful 1930s emerald green tiles of the iconic façade having undergone careful conservation to preserve the original gold Art Deco embellishments and Hebrew signage.

Visitors will also be able to discover stories of Galkoff’s family - which led curators as far as Poland and New York – highlighting the story of Liverpool’s Jewish community and its long history of migration.

Visitors will also be able to discover stories of Galkoff’s family - which led curators as far as Poland and New York – highlighting the story of Liverpool’s Jewish community and its long history of migration.

A hugely rewarding project

Janet Dugdale, Director of the Museum of Liverpool, said: “Galkoff’s and the Secret Life of Pembroke Place has been a hugely rewarding project to work on with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. With National Lottery support, and the help of enthusiastic volunteers, we have been able to develop research with the existing local community in and around Pembroke Place, giving this display a strong sense of place and authenticity.

“The stunning tiled façade of Galkoff’s butcher’s shop is a significant addition to the Museum’s collection. The careful research into the Galkoff family and the Liverpool Jewish community enriches the display and forms a powerful legacy.”